Sir, With reference to Paul Cullen's article (April 25th), the Director of Goal. Mr O'Shea urges the Irish Government to stop aid to Rwanda on grounds that the latter is "widely believed to be supporting the Zairian rebels" where "there are revelations of genocide". This is a very unfortunate and baseless allegation made by John O'Shea against Rwanda. It is very unfortunate that the Director basing himself on wrong and unverifiable facts calls upon his government to stop aid to Rwanda.
The government of Rwanda has nothing to do with the war in Zaire, where rebels are sorting out their domestic problem with the Zaire government. Mr O'Shea has no evidence to support his allegations. How can O'Shea call for a stop in aid to Rwanda where 100 million Rwandese refugees, including women, the aged and children, many of whom are unaccompanied, have returned recently? Is he aware that many more others continue to come even up to today via Goma? Is he aware that there are more than 300,000 widows and the same number of orphans left behind by the 1994 genocide who would be affected by Irish aid stoppage Mr O'Shea's allegations are absolutely wrong and baseless and yet he would like the people of Rwanda punished, based on his false allegations.
Ever since after the genocide, the government of Rwanda has consistently called upon the refugees to return, and still maintains the call, so that they are not caught up in the crisis in Zaire. Current statistics show that over 2.5 million Rwandans have returned. The justice system has been restored from scratch to the present level where we are able to proceed with trials of those accused of committing genocide. Restoration of social services including the health sector, has taken off. Support for the survivors of genocide, unaccompanied children and women groups, as well as resettlement and reintegration of all returnees, is also underway. In each of these areas Irish aid has been instrumental towards the successes we have registered. What Mr O'Shea should tell the Irish Government instead is to continue supporting Rwanda in order to resettle the refugees who have come, and continue to come, home and improve Rwanda's judicial system. He should urge the international community to find an appropriate way of encouraging the return of innocent refugees to Rwanda and have those holding them as hostages arrested and tried for genocide. In my view they remain the main source of danger to them.
Finally, I do feel that although Mr O'Shea is entitled to his views, his remarks seem not to be motivated by humanitarian concern to the Rwanda people, because there is no humanitarianism in his approach to the solutions in Rwanda and the region. I do challenge him on this. Rwanda has made a lot of progress since 1994, which can be witnessed by many, including many Irish NGO operating in Rwanda. Mr O'Shea needs to contact them or visit Rwanda himself in order to appreciate that Irish aid is used in Rwanda and not in support of Zairian rebels.
Yours, etc.,
Ambassador of Rwanda to Ireland, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N.